Do you worship idols or worship idly? Now, we’re not necessarily talking about dancing around a golden calf naked in the moonlight, but we could be. What about coming to church every Sunday, half asleep, thinking about the woes of the week or the big game later on in the day? While Israel followed their evil kings and continually left the worship of God for demonic idols, all idols don’t have to be so obviously demonic. Whatever you give the most time, honor, or esteem more than God is an idol. Is that golf game or fishing trip Sunday morning more important then coming to worship? Is that promotion that causes you to work non-stop all weekend the top priority in your life? God loves us but often warns that He is a jealous God. He wants to be our first priority not a promotion. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of happiness and providing well for your family, only keep your priority list straight; God, family, church, everything else. Show Him He is most important to you. In all you do, do it unto Him. Whatever you do, do for His glory. Plan, the night before, to be rested to come to church alert and on time, eager to sing His praises. Treat your family with the love and understanding that He shows you. Do your work without grumbling, to your best ability, as unto Him. Don’t worship idols! Don’t idly worship! Worship God!
Do you worry? Why? Okay, looking at the country’s leaders and the mess of world woes, one can get a little angsty, but why worry? What did Jesus ask us in the Sermon on the Mount? “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his span of life?” Do you worry about food and clothing? He feeds the birds of the air and royally clothes the lilies of the field, don’t you know of how much more value you are than birds and flowers? He knows our needs and doesn’t want us to fret unduly over them. Why? So that our priority would be to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these will be added unto you.” Did you catch that? Not seek all my needs first and then in my spare time seek His kingdom. God wants our faith first in Him, our first priority in Him. He knows us intimately. He knows our needs and desires, and while we may not always receive our desires, that’s generally because our desires aren’t what we really need. Don’t worry about what you don’t have, be thankful for what you do. Don’t worry about what you can’t change, work on what you can. Remember, He is in control, He knows right where you are, you don’t have to worry. Seek Him first each day and then go around confidently singing, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me!”
Who is your enemy? Is it someone with contrasting political views or someone of a different faith? Is it someone of a different nationality or race? Is it your neighbor who blasts his tv all hours of the night and won’t take care of his lawn? As Christians, we have only one legitimate enemy, the devil, and everyone else is someone we need to love, and if necessary, forgive. Jesus made it very clear how we are to treat our enemies (the devil excluded). “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you” Not always easy to do, not always the first thing that comes to mind, or the first thing we want to do. I like the phrase Pastor Curt used yesterday, “cross over the void of anger.” People, the world and its vastly opposing views, gets us angry, at least it does me, but we need to cross over that void of anger and even of hatred. Think of Stephen as he was being killed, his body being broken by hatred thrown stones, still praying, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” That is something we need to keep in the forefront of our minds, hate the sin, not the sinner. Everyone needs to be loved. Only love can change a heart. As He loves us, so we must love, and forgive, others. We may get angry, we may be used and abused, and then we may get over it! When Jesus said love your enemies, while it may not have been listed with the ten commandments, it was not meant to be a suggestion!
When we do things we know we shouldn’t do, it’s amazing how easy it is to come up with a reason to justify our actions or excuses that clear our consciences. The devil made me do it! Nine times out of ten, the tenth being the devil probably did make you do it, it’s nobody’s fault but our own and we alone are responsible for our choices and actions. So what motivates you to do things you should? Hopefully it is to follow the example of Jesus. He came in humility to serve, not to be served, and without any expectations from people. He came to show God’s love and open the gates of Heaven to everyone. Do we share His love to any and all? Do we share the good news of His grace? Do we serve without expectations? Many people have trouble with that or as the world says, what’s in it for me? That’s the thing about Christianity, we’re not in it for us, we’re in it for Him! We can love, because He first loved us. We can serve others, because He came as a servant. We can serve without expectations because we already have the ultimate eternal prize! What more do we need? So, how are you serving the Lord? No excuses! I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m retired, I’m too busy. Remember, He justified us, don’t even try to justify any of your excuses!
The world is awed by flash and glitter. Like the Forest Lawn cemetery worker who exclaimed as they lowered a deceased businessman into his grave, sitting upright in his Jaguar convertible wearing an Armani suit with a stogie in his mouth, “Man, that’s living!” Or like rock and hip hop recording artists, covered in gold chains and jewelry, flaunting their excessive lifestyles which capture the eyes and minds of impressionable children. Or sadly, even like the speaker at an Amway convention who wowed the crowd holding up a two foot jewel studded solid gold cross and proclaiming, “you too could own one of these,” if you sold enough of his products. Why would anybody possibly need a two foot solid gold cross? I do believe Jesus’ was made of rough hewn wood! Flash and glitter, doesn’t take much to attract people’s attention. People are like a cat chasing a red laser dot around the room, trying to catch what’s not really there. The world measures success in different ways but you want to know who one of the most successful people in the Bible is? Look at Mark 12:43,44. Probably the least flashy person the Apostles had seen all day, but when the poor widow dropped what little she had into the pot, she was exalted by Jesus and is still being exalted today! Want to be successful? There’s no flash and glitter involved. Give from your heart! Give to be seen by the Lord, not man! Give from what you have, be it abundance or lack. Give with a cheerful spirit and we’re not only talking about money here, We’re talking about the giving of your time, your abilities, your special gifts and skills, the giving of yourself! You want to be really successful? Give the Lord your heart in every aspect of your life!
Some people love power, control, and to use it to influence the thoughts of others into their way of thinking. Sadly, because people have wealth and power, they can do just that, regardless of how many people they may have thrown under the bus to get where they are. You don’t see a lot of humble people doing that. People that know their sinful heart has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus tend to walk in humble thanksgiving. Humble people many times think they have nothing to offer, yet they have the riches of heaven at their finger tips. Christians should be the most influential people in the world. We have the wealth of eternity to offer lost and hurting souls. We are the salt of the earth, time to get seasoning! Let the world see your light, see His love through you, and first and foremost, let your children, grandchildren, see it, feel it, be taught it. We need to be a major influence in the lives of our children, because if we aren’t, the world surely will be! Help us Lord to be who You created us to be, saved us to be, to do what You have for us to do. Help us to obey Your Word, teach our children to do the same, and to be the influence that turns hearts to You.
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
When we do things we know we shouldn’t do, it’s amazing how easy it is to come up with a reason to justify our actions or excuses that clear our consciences. The devil made me do it! Nine times out of ten, the tenth being the devil probably did make you do it, it’s nobody’s fault but our own and we alone are responsible for our choices and actions. So what motivates you to do things you should? Hopefully it is to follow the example of Jesus. He came in humility to serve, not to be served, and without any expectations from people. He came to show God’s love and open the gates of Heaven to everyone. Do we share His love to any and all? Do we share the good news of His grace? Do we serve without expectations? Many people have trouble with that or as the world says, what’s in it for me? That’s the thing about Christianity, we’re not in it for us, we’re in it for Him! We can love, because He first loved us. We can serve others, because He came as a servant. We can serve without expectations because we already have the ultimate eternal prize! What more do we need? So, how are you serving the Lord? No excuses! I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m retired, I’m too busy. Remember, He justified us, don’t even try to justify any of your excuses!
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team